Pop Psychology

Internet therapy has evolved from a valuable source of information to a collection of common sense locked in a reel.

Soprano Therapy Room. Photo courtesy of HBO. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Until recently, I was one of those people who used to get lost in the therapeutic advice the internet had to offer, pearls of psychology that came to me in a free and rewarding way. It was a way to learn new things about myself and others. On TikTok, I found this community of people who could access a Google document and add therapeutic advice that would then become accessible to anyone; it was called the ‘Free Therapy List’, and, honestly, I still refer back to it sometimes.

At one point, therapy itself became a trend. Perhaps that's why TikToks that begin with "Something my therapist told me that changed my life" no longer have the same impact they did a few years ago. Are we simply saturated with this content, or has it merely reached the point of banality?

Pop psychology has taken over Instagram and TikTok feeds with a pastel aesthetic and an endless stream of seemingly profound suggestions. However, the reality is that 90 percent of this advice has little to do with actual therapy; it’s just pure common sense dressed up as revelation. The main difference between a session with a psychologist and a viral reel is this: the former seeks to dismantle your illusions, while the latter packages them with a pleasing filter and a caption like, "Repeat after me: I deserve peace."

Scrolling through TikTok, you encounter a variety of content: therapists labeling individuals as 'people pleasers' simply for not wanting to argue with a supermarket cashier and life coaches advising viewers to ‘take space.’ The craziness of this becomes evident when you see videos emphasizing the importance of journaling—expressing feelings on paper and tracking both negative and positive days. Many commenters claim that EMDR therapy has transformed their lives.

While this isn't the place for in-depth psychological discussions, to understand the absurdity of the story, just think that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy designed to reprocess trauma using specific techniques guided by a certified therapist. In contrast, journaling involves writing down thoughts and emotions, which can help process experiences and reduce stress, but it does not include bilateral stimulation. Both practices can assist in making sense of difficult experiences, but they are not the same. Journaling can be beneficial for introspection, whereas EMDR has clinically proven and neuroscientific effects.

The popularity of such content on TikTok doesn't hinge on its effectiveness but rather on its simplicity. These videos offer light, digestible insights that are easily shareable. Conversely, engaging in therapy requires time, effort, and considerable emotional investment. Watching a 30-second TikTok may provide a fleeting sense of improvement without any genuine effort—much like believing you're fit simply because you watched a yoga video without ever rolling out your mat.

"Makeup Artist, Tata," available via Dazed. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

There was a time when discussing mental distress was considered taboo. Today, however, it has become an industry. Like any other industry, the self-care economy has found ways to monetize human insecurities. This is not to say that therapy shouldn’t be accessible or that psychological outreach is ineffective. On the contrary, it is essential. The problem arises when the complexity of personal growth is reduced to a checklist of actions, as if healing were simply a matter of will rather than a nuanced process.

Trauma cannot be resolved by repeating affirmations in front of a mirror while putting on makeup or preparing dinner. The rise of social psychology shows us that people often seek simple answers to complex problems. However, there is a significant difference between sharing insights and oversimplifying to the point of ridicule. The danger is that individuals may believe they are engaging in therapy when, in reality, they are just consuming content that provides temporary relief without addressing the underlying issues.

If the content you engage with offers no questions and only pre-packaged answers, you might be on a slippery slope. If it is marketed as a "path to transformation" at luxury prices, it’s time to walk away. True therapy involves doubt, frustration, and moments of confusion. If everything you consume online offers certainty and instant gratification, you are not engaging in introspection; you are merely fooling yourself.

No one is suggesting that social media cannot provide valuable insights or spark conversations about mental well-being. But to believe that a 20-second reel can substitute for the in-depth work required for self-understanding is unrealistic.

Perhaps, instead of seeking enlightenment in Instagram carousels, we should return to something more concrete: a genuine conversation, that possibly lasts more than 15 seconds.

If you are interested in understanding the impact technology is having on mental health and internet diagnosis, Pod Therapy has an episode that delves into this topic.